South Charleston football star Derrek Pitts enrolls early at WVU

South Charleston’s Derrek Pitts has enrolled for the spring semester at WVU.

South Charleston High football star Derrek Pitts couldn’t wait to get to West Virginia University to start his college football career, so he decided to get there early.

Pitts, winner of the Carl Lee Award as the state’s top prep defensive back, was one of three freshmen to enroll early for the Mountaineers football team, the university announced Tuesday.

“[F]eels good to be home,” Pitts posted earlier on his Twitter account, later adding, “It’s a great day to be a Mountaineer.”

Pitts is listed as a safety in WVU’s announcement.

Pitts’ enrollment at WVU ends a recruiting process for him that started with a verbal commitment to Penn State. That came at the end of July at a ceremony at a local restaurant. He changed his mind in early October, rescinding that verbal pledge, then in mid-October switched that verbal commitment to the Mountaineers.

By enrolling for the spring semester, Pitts will be able to participate in WVU spring practices.

The Mountaineers are getting one of the most decorated members of the Class of 2017 in the state. On top of the Lee Award, Pitts was named the Gazette-Mail’s Kanawha Valley Player of the Year and a Class AAA all-state first-team selection.

As a senior, Pitts recorded 90 tackles (56 solo) and nine tackles for loss. He also piled up 1,169 all-purpose yards and scored 10 touchdowns — four on receptions, two on kickoff returns, two on fumble returns and one each on a punt return and an interception. He averaged 45.5 yards on kickoff returns and 21.3 yards on punt returns, and recruiting services Rivals and Scout rated him the state’s top prospect for 2017.

Along with Pitts, Morgantown High fullback Maverick Wolfley and New Orleans Landry-Walker High running back Tevin Bush also enrolled at WVU for the spring. Wolfley’s father Dale and uncle Ron were WVU standouts and his brother Stone is a current WVU football player. Bush was rated the No. 10 all-purpose back in the country by Rivals.